Milking machine



Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,533,1s7 PATENT OFFICE.

CYRUS HOWARD HAPGOOD, OF NUTLEY, NEXV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE LAVALSEPARATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY,

MILKING MACHINE.

Application inea May 29, 1924. sei-iai No. 716,548.

To @7l 11i/'mm t may conce/m.' Be .it known lthat I, CYnUs HOWARD HAP-Goon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nutley, county ofEssex, and State 5 of New Jersey, have invented a new anduseful.Improvement in Milking lsfachines, of which the following is afull` clear, and exact description, reference heilig had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a l part of this specification.

A known efficient type of releaser i'nilkingv machine comprises a, milkpipe line leading to a releaser, a vacuum pipe connecting the releaserwith a Vacuum pump, and a pneu fl matic'l'iulsation pipe line. The pipelines areequ'ipped with cocks along their length, to which areconneetible milker units each comprising a claw having a milkchamber andan udder pulsator valve, and double chamber teat cups. The inner or teatchamv bers ofthe cups connect with the milk chamber vof the claw, fromwhichI extends a milk pipe that is connectible with the i milk pipeline. The outer or pulsation chambers of the cups connect with the valveVchamber of the claw, from which extends .an air pipe connected with thepipe that is connectible with the milk pipe line. The valvechamber ofthe clawis so connectible with the pulsation pipe line that the valvetherein reciprocates in response to pneu- Amatic pulsations transmittedthrough such line. The valve, in its reciprocations, connects eachpulsatiion chamber of a treat cup alternately with atmosphere and withthe said vair pipe conununicating, through said milk pipe, with the milkpipe line.

The aboveniode of operation involves the exhaustion of air' from theouter teat cup chambers into the milk pipe line. This oftenv leads tovcontamination of the milk. For example, when the teat cups are washed,the precaution is not always taken to remove the flexible annulardiaphragm,

or infiation, that divides the teat cup into ceive milk. In such asystem, contamination of the milk arising from exhaustion of air fromthe pulsation chambers of the teat cups is avoided by exhausting suchair into the main vacuum pipe line, as disclosed in the Leitch PatentNo. 1,394,433, October 1S, 1921. But where, as in the releaser system,the vacuum pipe line is also a milk line, contamination occurs, as aboveexplained.

It has been sought to avoid this contami nation by providiirg` a thirdpipe line and connecting it with the vacuum pump so that it willfunction solely as an air pipe, and providing for exhaust of air fromthe inflation chambers of the teat cups into this line. This does avoidcontamination, but it `gives rise to other moreserious ditiiculties,which may be explained as follows:

VIn the releaser system of milking, it is usually necessary that thereleaser should be positioned at a substantially higher level than themilk pipe line, in order to carry this pipe line over passageways or todeliver milk at a height sutiieient to flow over milk coolers beforereaching the usual receptacles. Inasmuch as a large volume of milk mustbe drawn through the milk pipe line and lifted into the releaser, it isobvious that the vacuum in the milk pipe line is much weaker than at thepump. It is also necessary to lift the milk from the teat cups into themilk pipe line. The vacuum at the teat cups, is therefore, somewhat:lower than in the milk pipe line. For example, there niay be twentyinches of vacuum at the pump, fifteen inches in the milk pipe line andfourteen inches at they teal; cups.

Now, if provision is made for the exhaust of air from the inflationchambers of the teat cups into a special Vacuum pipe line, it is obviousthat the vacuum in the outer teat cup chambers (when they are connectedwith vacuum) will be approximately that at the pump, as the vacuum hasalmost no work to perform. This results in ar highly unbalanced vacuumin the two teat cup chambers. The vacuum in the outer chambers may befive or six inches higher than in the inner chambers, causing a highlyinjurious action on the teats. Indeed, the necessity of approximatelybalancing the vacuum in the two teat cup chambers has been longl wellrecognized.

It has been attempted to overcome this diiilculty by applying aVpressure reducing valve Vto the supplementary vacuum pipe line. Therebythe vacuum in this pipe line can be lowered as desired, but `it does notVsolve the problem,l for several reasons. In

the i'irst place, in different installationsv the releaser inlet isplaced at diii'erent heights above the floor line, which creates Vwidevariations in the absolute vpressure drop between the vacuum pump andthe milk pipe line. rl`his necessitates a careful adjustment of thepressure regulation valve toadapt it to different installations. Theinstallers'ot the milking' machine cannot be depended on to etiect thisadjustment with any approach to' accuracy, while, even if the valve iscitieiently adjusted, there is lnothingto prevent the user Jfromtampering` with the valve and effecting such different adj ustment atthe teat cups to vary notwithstanding a constant degree of vacuum at thepump.

An eiiicient remedy tor the' described cou- 1't` bl d71 tthtt i) ci iono un a ance iacaum a e ea cti involves the provision of means'l wherebythe vacuum in the outer teat cup chambers will automatically balance7 ornearly balance,

the vacuum in the inner teat cup chambers,

regardless'of the degree to which the lat-ter vacuum may vary 1ndifferent installations or .at different times in the same installation.

l have accomplished this object by means one specific'embodiment oi?which is illustratedvin the acc(mipanying drawings7 in whichn y allie'.`l is a diagram oli a releaser milker with my invention applied thereto.

Fig.` 2 is a longitudinal section of the vacuum balancing valve and itspneumatic operating means.

From a vacuum pump a extends an air pipe b to a releaser c. Beyond thereleaser is the milk pipe line CZ.` c is a ina-ster pulsator valveoperable by the vacuum'pump to connect the pneumatic pulsation pipe line7" alternately with pressure (atmosphere) and vacuum. f

The milk pipe line is Vprovided with a lvacuum control valve and cocksd. rlhe pulsation pipe line is provided with cocks To these cocks areadapted to be connected milker units. y

AEach milker unit (which is shown on a scale enlarged relative tothe*entire apparatus) comprises a claw composed of a milk chamber g and avalve chamber 7L cont-aining an u'dder pulsator valve i; also four teatcups 7c (only two are shown) whose inner chambers are connected by tubesm, m with the milk chamber g and whose outer chambers are connected bytubes n, n with the valve chamber 71,. From the milk chambery extends apipe o adapted for connection with any of the cocks d on the milk pipeline d. FromVY the valve chamber 7L' extends a pipe Z9 adapted forconnection with any oi:

lthe cocks f on the pulsation pipe line 7'.

From the valve chamber extends a pipe 7" which is usually (but not in myinvention) connected with. the pipe 0 near the end thereof adaptedItorconnection with the milk pipe line d.

In operation, milk is drawn from the tears through the inner chambers ofthe teat cups7 tubes m', milk chamber 9, pipe 0 and milk pipeline d toreleaser c. Valve is reciprocated by pulsations transmitted theretothrough pipe line andv pipe p. rlhe reciprocationv of valve z' operatesto connect each tube a (leading from an outer teat cup chamber)alternately with pressure (atmosphere) and with pipe r, which lmust bein some mannerconnected. with vacuum.

In my invention7 l provide a third pipe line s, which is connected withthe vacuum pump. Y t isa casing provided with a tubular valve' chamber uenlarged and dish-shape(v at one end to receive a complementarydishshaped end closure @,thereby forming a diaphragm chamber acrosswhich extends a diaphragm w. rlhe end head o is provided with a threadedorifice adapted to receive a pipe :o connected with the `milk pipe lined. j Y

Thevalve chamber u is provided with aligning` 'threaded orifices yadapting' the casingto be inserted in a fourth (air) pipe line et" whichextends along' the pipe lines LZ and and is provided with cocks e anyofi which are adapted for connection with the pipe r ot a milker unit. if

The lvalve chamber a is alsol provided with a port 3 having a threadedorilice adaptedto connect with the end of the special vacuum pipe lines.

Hthin the valve chamber u is an axially ported valve al. having` a stem5 attached to the diaphragm in. Normally the valve 4 is so positionedvas to partly open; port 3, thereby affording' communication between thespecialvacuum pipe s and the air pipe line a, whicln as above stated7connects with the outer or pulsation chambers of the 'teat cups. Y

VVi'th unrestricted communication between pipes a and e, anobjectionably high vacuum would be'created in the'pipe and kin the outerV milk pipe al) by means of the diaphragm w.

Y In case the absolute pressure in milk pipe line (Z should rise abovethe pressure in pipe line e, diaphragm w will operate to slide yvalveinto position to further throttle, or

temporarily 4entirely close, port 3, thereby i. `causing theabsolutepressure iny pipe line .2

" 'the absolute pressure in pipe line e `rise above the pressure in milkpipe line (l,

.to rise until the pressures on opposite sides of the diaphragm-areequalized In case should diaphi'agm w will operate to slide the valvevisnot so great as to create any Aon the teat and thereby iniiict 'tialinjury thereto.

into position to further, or temporarily wholly, open port 3, therebycausing the pressure in pipe line to drop until the pressures onopposite sides oft' the diaphragm i are equalized.

There is, as hereinbefore explained, a slight, and usuallyinsnbstantial, difference inthe degrees of vacuuinat the teat cups andin tliemilk pipe line; but this dierence i serious pull any substan- Inmy invention, so far las IV have Vdescribed it, this difference is notrectified; but it it isA desired to do' so, means may be provided, suchVasV a light spring 6 'confined between the diaphragm zo andthe end head0,-'which,`if the absolute pressures in pipes aand d should be equal,would move diaphragm 'w into position to further throttle port 3 andcause the vacuum in pipe f a to fall somewhat, thereby exactly balancingthe vacuum in lthe inner teat cup chambers. In other words, the absolutepressures on diaphragm 'w are normally just sufficientlyl unbalanced toexactly balance the GQ a source of suction, a milk pipe line and a jdouble chamber vbers Aare connectible with the milk pipe line and apulsator 'j however,

vacuum on opposite'sides oi the inflation in the teat cup. rlhe spring Gmay be omitted, if so tine an adjustment is not deemed advisable. Y

By means ci the foregoing construction, means ai'e provided forsi'ibstantially or precisely balancing the vacuum in the teat cups,which means is applicable to any .installation without adjustment andoperates automatically, in any installation, to effect the desiredbalancing regardless of variations in the vacuum between the vacuum pumpand the locus of milking.

` Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

l.V In a milking machine, in combination,

special vacuinn pipeline connected with the source of suction, a milkingunit comprising teat cups whose inner chamvalve adapted to connect the.source of suction.

2. In a milking machine, in coi'nbination, a source of suction, a milkpipe line and a vspecial vacuum pipe line connected there with, an airpipe line. a milking unit coinprising double chamber teat cups whoseinner chambers are adapted ttor connection with the milk pipe line and apulsator valve adapted to connect the outer teat cup chainbersalternately with pressure fluid and with said air pipe line, and means.including a, connection between the special vacuum pipe line and the airpipe line, adapted to create in the air pipe line a partial vacuum andmaintain it at a substantially constant ratio to the partial vacuum inthe milk pipe line.

3. In a milking machine, in combination, a source of suction, a milkpipe line and a special vacuum pipe line connected there-V with. an airpipe line, a milking unit comprising double chamber teat cups whoseinner chambers are adapted for connection with the milk pipe line and apulsator valve adapted to connect the outer teat cup chambersalternately with pressure fiuid and with said air pipe line, meansaffording coininuni cation between the special vacuum pipe line and theair pipe line, and means governed by the absolute pressures in the airpipe line and the milk pipe line to throttle said communication andmaintain said pressures approximately balanced.

t. In a milking machine, in combination, a lsource of suction, a milkpipe line and a special vacuum pipe line connected therewith, an airpipe line. a milking unit coinprising double chan'ibcr teat cups whoseinner chambers are adapted t'or connection with the milk pipe line and apulsator valve adapted to connect the outer teat cup chambersalternately with pressure fiuid and with said air pipe line, meansaffording communication between the vacuum pipe line and the air pipeline, a diaphragm opposite faces of which are open respectively to themilk pipe line and the air pipe line, and a valve operable by thediaphragm and adapted to control said communication.

5. In a milking machine, in combination, a source of suction, a milkpipe line and a special vacuum pipe line connected therewith, an airpipe line, a milking unit comprisii'ig double chamber teat cups whoseinner chambers are adapted for connection with the milk pipe line and apnlsator valve adapted to connect the outer teat cup chambersalternately with pressure fluid and with said air pipeline,a casingforming a chamber having a cylindrical bore and an enlarged chamber atone end, a diaphragm in said enlarged chamber, means affordingcommunication between the end head of said en-l larged chamber and themilk pipe line, the bore of said casing having ports communicatingrespectively with the vacuum pipe line and the air pipe line and a valveslidable in said bore and connected with said diaphragm and movablethereby to throttle the port communicating' with the vacuum pipe line.

6. In a milking machine, the -combination with a source of suction; areleaser connected therewith; avmilk pipe line connected with thereleaser; a pneumatic pulsation pipe line; a milking unit comprisingteat cups provided with inner teat chambers and outer pulsationchambers, a milk pipe communicating with the teat chambers and adaptedfor connection with 4the milk pipe line, a

Vpulsation vpipe adapted tor connection with the pnlsat-ion pipe line, athird pipe, and a valve operable by pulsations transmitted through thepulsation pipe to connect the outer teat cupI chambers alternately withatmosphere and with said third pipe; of a special pipe line connectedwithv suction, a second special pipe line with which said third pipe o'tthe milking` unit is adapted to be connected, means alfordingcommunication between the'two special pipe lines, a diaphragnroppositesides Vot. which communi- Y cate vrespectively with the second speciallpipe line and the milk pipe line, and a valve operable by saiddiaphragm to variablyA throttle the connmuiication between the twospecial pipe lines.

T. lnv a milking machine, in combination, a source of suction, a milkpipe line and a special vacuum pipe line connected therewith, an airpipe line, a milking unit comprising double chamber teat cups whoseinner chambers are adapted for connect-ion Y Vwith the niilk pipe lineand a pulsiator valve adapted to connect the outer teat cup chambersalternately with pressure fluid and with said air pipe line. meansaiording communication between the vacuum pipe line and the air .pipeline, a diaphragm opposite -iaces ot which are open respectively to thehereunto set my hand, at New York, on this 27 th day of May, 1924. y

CYRUS HOWARD HAPGOOD.

i llVitnesses: H i R. R. VARREN,

JOHN H. Lrsicn.V

